Bathing barge



'1,569,910 c. s. BoHANNoN ,Y

BATHLNG BARGE y Filed Feb. 18, 192s '2' spam-snm z *Jam 19, 1926.

. INVENTOR Patented Jan. 19, 1926.

.PATENToFFlcs UNITED STATES i CLAUDE SOUTHWORTH BOHANNON, F NOKMIS, FLORIDA, ASSIG-NOR 0F ONE-HALF T0 WILLIAM E. STEVENS, 0F NOKOMIS, FLORIDA.

BATHING BAB/GE.

Application led February 18, 1925.

Y 1ro all whom 'it muy concern.'

Be it known that I, CLAUDE S. BoHANNoN, a citizen of the 'United States, residing` at Nokomis, in the county of Sarasota and State of Florida, have invented a new and useful Bathing Barge, of which the following is a specification.

rlhis invention relates to a boat in the nature of a barge adapted to be used for recreational purposes.

The general object of the invention is to provide a boat of this type, primarily designed to be used as a floating base for bathing and diving, and equipped also with varions otherdevices to be used for exercise, amusement or repose. Another important feature of the invention is the provision of means whereby the boat may be moored at some distance off shore, and may be easily moved back and forth between its mooring place and a point on shore, where .it may be drawn either partly orwholly out of the water.

The invention will be more specifically described in connection with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate one form in which the invention may be embodied.

ln the drawings:

Figure l is a plan View rof the invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevation thereof.

Figure 3 is an end elevation thereof.

The invention, as illustrated, comprises a fiat bottomed boat or barge, having a hull 5 of sufficient capacity to support the desired super-structure and any desired number of bathers and spectators. The upper surface of the hull forms a lower deck 6, which :is provided at the sides with companion ladders 7 to enable the bathers to easily reach the same from the water. A number of diving boards 8 project over the edges of the deck 6.

The super-structure comprises an upper deck 9, supported by suitable stanchions l0, and easily reached from the lower deck by means of steps or ladders l1 at either end. A plurality of transverse beams or girders l2 are secured to the upper deck, and project over the water to provide supports for trapeze rings 13, and for swings 14C. An inclined chute or slide l5 may also be secured to one end of the upper deck, with its lower end overhanging `Vthe water. The upper deck may .also be fused for high diving, Rows semi No. 10,054.

of seats 16 may also be provided on either or both decks for the convenience of the bathers and for spectators.

rlhc postion of the boat or barge is determined by means of a cable 17, which is secured at one end to the outer end of the hull, as at 18, and passes thence over a sheave 19 mounted on a buoy or mooring post 20, located at some distance off shore where the water is deep enough for the enjoyment of aquatic sports. From the sheave 19, the cable passes shoreward, and through a tubular guideway 2l extending from end to end of the hull near its longitudinal center, and near the water line. The cable passes thence about a winch 22 located on the shore, and has its inner end secured, as at 23, to the inner end of the hull 5. The winch 22 may be operated by means of a hand crank 24, or by any suitable power device, and when rotated in one direction will tow the barge outwardly toward the mooring post 20, and when rotated inthe other direction will tow the barge toward the shore. The under side of the hull 5 is provided at each end with a pair of rollers 25, which, when the barge approaches the coast line, will engage andride over the bottom, and provide supports by means of which the barge may be drawn inwardly until it is nearly or wholly out of the water.

From the foregoingr description, it will be seen that a barge constructed in the manner described will afford means for supporting any desired number of amusements and recreation devices, the character of which may be varied as fancy dictates. It may be used either on inland lakes and streams, or on the ocean, and may be towed to any location desired. When installed in the manner indicated, it provides a perfectly clean and sanitary base from which all the various aquatic sports may be indulged in, and it may be conveniently moved off-shore or inshore to a point where the water is of the depth desired. In case a storm suddenly arises, the barge may be pulled to the shore in a few minutes.

lVhile I have shown and described in detail the preferred construction of the invention, it is obvious that various modifications may be made in the size, shape and relative arrangement of the various features,

as well as in the lllracter of the devices through said gnidewuy to :t point on the shore und thence buck to the inner end ol' the barge to which it is attached, und ineens lon-ted it Said point on the shore to move the cable in either direct-ion to tow said barge back and forth between the mooringr station :1nd said point on the shore.

In testimony, that I claim the li'oiegoing 2U as iny own, I have hereto :ilxed my signuture.

CLAUDE SOUTHWORTH BOHANNON. 

